Machine for setting or affixing pronged loops to leather or other material.



W. R. MEDEARIS. MACHINE FOR SETTING 0R AFPIXING PRONGED LOOPS TO LEATHER OR OTHER MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED KAY 24. 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED APR. 9, 1907.

No. 849,847. PATBNTED APR. 9, 1907.

. W. R. MEDEARIS. MA'GHINB FOR SETTING 0R AFFIXING PRONGED LOOPS T0 LE ATHER OR OTHER MATERIAL. Arrmoulox nun MAY 24. 190a.

3 8HEBT8-SHEET 2.

19i ha cow:

PATBNTED APR. 9, 1907. W. R. MEDEARIS'.

MACHINE FOR SETTING 0R AFPIXING PRON'GBD LOOPS T0 LEATHER OR OTHER MATERIAL. nruogrzox rn-nn In 24, 1900.

8 SHEETS-B81131 8.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM ROBERT MEDEARIS, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO J. M. GRAY, JR., AND ONE-THIRD TO H. A. ELLERS, OF

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

MACHINE FOR SETTING R AFFIXING PRONGED L OOPSTO LEATHER OR' OTHER MATERIAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9, 1907.

Application 5195 May 24, 1906. Serial No. 318,532.

Todll whom, it may concern.-

Be' it known'that I, WILLIAM ROBERT MEDEARIS, a citizen of the United States,

, Machines for Setting or Afiixing Pronged I Loops to'Leather or other Material; and I A same.

" -.:This invention is a machine for attaching doihereby declare the following to be a full,

cle'a :and exact description of the invention,

' s'uc as enable others skilled in the art to whichiit appertains to make and use the pronged 1lo.ops of the character hereinafter stated to "leather: or other material where strap-loops orkeepers are employed for the end of strap to rest under when buckled,

such as various parts of harness, straps of all kinds and sizes, trunks, valises, and other articles.

' I The main object of the invention is to effectively set and clench the prongs in the leather or other material, whlle preserving the erfect shape of the loop.

he character of loop referred to is made from a sheet-metal blank or stripbent or formed into the shape of a rectangular loop, with its ends turned inwardly and downwardly to provide tangs or prongs, the said prongs bein' desirably curved to increase their strengt and stiflness and cause them to upset orclench in the leather somewhat in the manner of a split tubular rivet.

In the accompanyi drawings, which form a part 'of this s ec' cation, several s ecific forms or embo iments of the invention are illustrated, it being understood that the invention is susceptib e of embodiment in different mechanical organizations and that the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be variously modified. Without essential limitation, therefore, to any articular construction the invention will hereinafter be fully described with reference to said ,drawin s and will then be more particularly pointe out and defined in the ap ended claims.

11 said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying my invention looking at the side and back of the loop-setting mechanism and showing the same mounted in a suitable iii-me. Fig. 2 is a pershape-retainer or pattern-form. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the loop; gripped in the machine and the parts ready for affixing the loop to the leather strap or other article. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the machine at the completion of a setting operation, the leather straps being indicated in cross-sec tion. Fig. 7 is a central vertical section taken transversely of the front of the machine. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a different construction of machine embodying my invention, showing the loop in place and the machine in position to begin the setting-operation. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another construction of machine embodying my invention, also showing the loop'in place and l the mechanism ready to start the setting operation. Fig. 10 is a view of the machine 0 Fig. 9 at the completion of its operation.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the anvil of the ma- C may be actuated by a setting-lever B, 5

which may be manipulated by hand or to which power may be applied'by a treadle or foot-lever or by other appropriate means.

It is understood, of course, that the particular style or construction of supporting-frame and ower-applying mechanism is immateria to the present invention.

'Before describing the loo -setting mechanism in detail it will be wel to refer briefly to the pronged loop or fastening which the 'machine is Intended to affix to the leather.

IOO

- of a wise while retaining the shape of the loo which is carried and operatedby the plunger- This loop is designated' throughoutthe drawings by the letter X. Its general form is that of a headed bipronged or staple-like device, the rectangular loop portion proper constituting the head and extending oppositely beyond the prongs, which latter depend from the extremities of the lower side of the loop or head, leaving a break or space between the prongs. ln the operation of setting this device :in the leatheror' other materlal its prongs must be driven into the leather or material and upset or clenched in the usual manner of-setting'a rivet, while at the same time the prongs must be heldstiff; and kept from bending" or deflecting out of their roper relative position, and the shape of the 00p or 'head must be preserved, so that when the 0 eration is completed the loop will be firm y attached to the leather and present a neat appearance, Without dents or bends, and be in correct sha e to receive the strap whichis to be inserted t erethrough or incase the prongs are not pointed and are designed to be inserted through the material and upset or clenched after the manner slplit tubular rivet the pro s must likee-forced against the anvi and upset,

Referring to Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, iilie principal operativeielements as therein illustrated are t e anvil'D and the cooperative plunger,

rod C. The plunger 18 a compound mechanism, consisting of the shoeor presser E, r' idly attached to the foot of the lunger-rdd, and the pattern-form or loop olding and shape-retaining feet F and prong-bracing foot G, this latter device 'bemg carried by a holder 'H, which is connected with the lunger-rod and is normally supportable by the presser. These parts will now be described in detail. I

The presser or shoe E, carried by the lower end of the plunger-rod C, is a block ada ted to bear upon the head of the loop and ive the rongs into the leather and a ainst the anvil when the lunger-rod is epressed. The presser has 'ependin or downwardlyextended sides e, adapte to straddle the loop and fit closely a amst the opposite sides thereof to prevent 5mm from springing or separating outwardly in the setting operatlon.

The holder H is s'lidably secured on thep'lunger-rod 0 above the resser E. It is shown provided with a vertical hole or guideway h, in which the plunger-rod is slidably, fitted, whereby said holder can be lifted and su ported by the presser when the plungerrod is raised. Said holder H is provided with depending L-sha ed legs whose forwardly-extending feet I constitute the pattern-form or loop-holding and shape-retaining devices F, before mentioned. Between the legs and feet F is an intermediate L- shaped leg whose forwardly-extended foot G constitutes the prong-bracing device above referred to. Said intermediate foot G is s'lidably arranged between the feet F and is actuated by a suitable spring, as indicated at J, to press the foot G yieldingly-downward. In the specific arrangement shown for this urpose the spring J is a tension spring avmg its lower end secured to a stud or pin 7' atthe back of the holder and having its upper end connected to a pin or stud carried y an upper extension g of the leg G, said extension 9 being slidably or inovably ar-.

ranged in a vertical hole or guideway therefor in the holder H. To allow vertical movement of the foot G and its shank g, a slot This arrangement may of course be variously modified or other suitable means adopted.

The feet F (which constitute the patternform or the loop-holding and shape-retaining devices) are adapted to fit closely within the loop X and fill up the spaces between the vertical sides of the loop and its depending prongs, so that the two feet F are rigidly embraced by theloop. When the loop is placed on these feet in this manner, the presser E is adapted to descend and straddle or closely embrace the outer sides of the loop, and thus the loop will be firmly braced both inwardly and outwardly as the presser continues to descend in effecting the setting operation. The feet F, besides holding the loop in proper position, preserve its'forrn and prevent mashing in, bending, or indenting thereof, thus constituting a form or shape-retainer fitting within the loop, while the depending sides of the presser-Eclamp the sides of the loop outwardly and prevent spreading or outward bending thereof, due to the strain of the setting operation.

The intermediate foot G, which is the prong-bracing device, is normally held by the spring J below the feet F and is adapted to fit closely between the prongs of the loop, thereby bracing the prongs. In the setting operation the foot G rests upon the surface of the leather strap or other article, (indicated in the drawings -by the letter Y,) and as the presser E descends, driving the prongs into the leather and clenching them, said foot G recedes into the medial space between the feet F, thus maintaining a gradually-receding brace until the prongs have completely entered the leather and clenched. At the completion of the operation the presser E and feet F will have passed down and completely straddled the foot G, as shown in Fig. 6.

The anvil D is a steel or hard-metal block designed to hold the leather strap or straps Y or other article to which the loop X is to be affixed, and the upper surface of said anvil is formed with concave recesses or grooves, as indicated at d, to deflect the points of the prongs and cause them to upset or bend upwardly, so as to effectively clench in the leather or other material, or in the case of a loop having blunt prongs the anvil causes the prongs to upset and clench on the under side of the leather. The points of the prongs of the loop may be deflected either inwardly or outwardly, as desired, the grooves d in the where the loops are to be aflixed to wide orlarge fiat surfaces an anvil must be employed without such extended or rising sides.

The operation of the said machine shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 is as follows: To receive the loop, the plunger-rod C is lifted, thereby raising the presser E and holder H and opening orseparating the presser, the patternform or loop-holding and shape-retaining feet F, and the prong-bracing foot G, which latter is of course pressed downwardly by its spring J. In this position the loop is slipped over and fitted on the form or the feet F in the manner shown in Fig. 4, so that the prongs of the loop depend at opposite sides of the intermediate foot G, while the spaces in the loop between its opposite vertical sides and the prongs are filled up by the feet F. Then upon depressing the plunger-rod the points of the prongs come in contact with the leather or other material to which the device is to be attached, and the presser E descends over the head of the loop and comes down fiatwise thereon, straddling the sides of the loop, as shown in Fig. 5. The continued downward movement of the plunger-rod now forces the entire plunger down on the material, driving the prongs into the leather or material and against the anvil D, which is of course properly positioned to receive the prongs and to upset or clench the same, as shown in Fig. 6. In this operation the head or loop is firmly held and braced by the pattern-form or feet F and by the depending sides of the presser E as the presser bears forcibly down upon the crown or top of the loop, while the prongs are firmly braced by the intermediate foot G, whichgradually recedes into the space between the feet F as the plunger descends and completes its move ment, thus preventing said prongs from bending inward while-being set. In this manner the loop is firmly set, clenched, and fastened to the leather or material without liability of spreading or bending out of position and without impairing the perfect shape of the loop. After the operatipn of setting the loop the plunger-rod C is lifted to raise the presser E off the head of the loop, and the strap or material is then pulled lengthwise to slip the loop off of the pattern-form or feet F, which thus disengages the loop from the machine.

Referring to Fig. 8, the machine illustrated in this figure is substantially similar in construction and operation to that already described, except that it is modified in the following particular: The presser E is made without the depending side pieces employed in the machine first described, and in lieu thereof the anvil D has its sides (1 extended upwardly high enough to embrace or engage the opposite sides of the loop in the setting operation and preventing the sides of the loop from spreading or springing out while being set. In other words, the small upright sides d of the anvil D in this modified construction perform the same function as the depending sides e of the presser E in the machine shown in Figs. 4 to 7. The remaining elements of this machine are the same as in the machine first described and are designated by the same reference-symbols.

Referring to Figs. 9, 10, and 11, the machine illustrated in these figures is likewise similar in general construction and operation to the machines previously described, but is modified by the omission of the prong-bracing foot, (designated by the letter G in the preceding figures,) and in lieu thereof a compound anvil of peculiar construction is employed. A brief description of this figure is as follows: The plunger, carried by the plunger-rod C, comprises the presser E holder H and pattern-form or loop-holding and shape-retaining foot F The presser is of the same form as that shown in Figs. 4 to 7. The foot or pattern-form F carried by the holder H is adapted to fit within the loop and corresponds to the feet F in Figs. 4 to 7, performing the same function of bracing the loo internally in the setting operation. This foot or pattern-form F may comprise a single 'oblong block adapted to fill up the whole loop, as shown, or it may comprise two feet similar to the feet F already described in Figs. 3 to 7. The intermediate prong-bracing foot (designated by letter G in Figs. 4 to 7) is omitted as a separate part, though in this particular instance the foot F being solid, includes such apart. The anvil (designated by the letter D is shown as an upright mounted on a block D the anvil being preferably of just sufficient width approximately to receive and upset or clench the ends of the loop-prongs. Rising from the block D at opposite sides of the anvil D are two pins (1 on which are arranged coiled compression-springs 01 Above the block D is a movable block D, having a central hole slidably fitted on the anvil D said hole extending from the bottom to the top of said block I). Said block D also has opposite sockets or holes extending a suitable distance from the bottom of the block, which receive the pins (1 and springs (1 In this manner the block D is held yieldin ly upward, the springs (1 being strong enoug to hold up the block while the prongs of the loop arebeing forced or inserted through the leather or material to which the loop is to be set. In the operation of: this machine the leather or material is placed upon the block D and the plunger is lowered by the plunger rod, thereby driving the prongs of the loop into the material, and as the plunger-rod continues to descend the presser E continues to 0 down, carrying or pressing the material and the block D down with it, forcing the points of the loop-prongs against the anvil D on which they are clenched. This form 'of anvil is preferably only for setting or attaching loops to large flat pieces of soft material, but not for general use, the forms represented and described in Figs. 3 to 8 being preferable for setting loops to leather straps and the like. A modification of this latter style of anvil is shown in Fig. 12, where D represents an 11 right anvil-post arranged in a socket in t e block D-*, and D indicates a movable sleeve or centrally-apertured block slidably fitted on or around. the anvil-post D and slidably arranged in said socket in the block D. A coiled spring 1), arranged around the anvilpost D between the bottom of the socket and the lower end of the movable tubular block D holds the latter yieldingly upward in the same manner and for the same purposes as alalready explained'with reference to the preceding Figs. 9, 10, and 11.

The invention is also capable of various other embodiments and of modifications in details of structure and arran ement, as previously pointed out. It will e understood, moreover, that the forms of the anvil-presser and pattern-form or loop-holding, shape-retaining, and bracing devices may be variously modified in accordance with the dimensions and configuration of the particular loop to be attached by the machine to the leather or the material. The loop is of'course made in different sizes and may be made in other forms than the specific form herein illustrated. For example, in addition to changes in the relative dimensions of the loop its sides may be curved more or less instead of perfectly square or angular, as snewn in Figs. 2 and 3, in which case the pattern-form, loopholding, or shape-retaining feet F would of course be correspondingly formed to fit within the loop, while the presser or anvil, as the case might be, would be formed to fit around or embrace the sides of the loop outwardly.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the i nited States, is

1. In a loopsetting machine, the combination of a fpresser for operating on the head of a pronge loop to drive its prongs into material, and a pattern-form adapted to receive and fit within the head of the loop, said form being carried by and under said presser and movably connected therewith, whereby said presser descends independently until it bears upon the head of the loop fitted on said form, and then the form descends with and under the action of the presser to efiect the setting operation, said form being confined within the head of the loop until completion of said operation and thereby preserving its conformation.

2. In a loop-setting machine, the combina tion of a presser arrangedto operate on the head of a pronged loop, a movable patternform adapted to receive and fit within the loop, said form being movable with the presser in the setting operation, and means for bracing the outer sides of the loop.

tion of a presser arranged to operate on the head of a ronged loop and having extensions or pro ections at its sides for embracing the sides of the loop between them, and a form arranged to receive and fit within the loop to prevent bending or distortion thereof in the setting operation, said form being movable with the presser.

4. In a loop-setting machine, the combination of a presser arranged to operate on the head of a pronged loop, a movable patternform adapted to receive and fit within the loop, said form being movable with the presser in the setting operation, and a gradually-receding prong-bracing device for bracing the prongs in the setting operation.

5. In a loop-setting machine, the combination of a presser arranged to operate on the head of a pronged loop, a movable patternform adapted to receive and fit within the loop, said form being movable with the resser in the setting operation, and means or bracing the prongs and outer sides of the loo 6 In a loop-setting machine, the combination of a resser arranged for operating on the head of a pronged loop, an anvil arranged to receive and clench or upset the points of said prongs, one of the said parts having side projections or extensions arranged to embrace the outer sides of the loop and prevent spreading thereof, and a movable form arranged to receive and and descend with the presser to prevent bending or distortion of the loop.

7. In a loop-setting machine, the combination of a plunger-rod, a presser affixed to the end thereof, said presser arranged for operating on the head of a pronged loop, a holder movably connected with said rod above the presser and having two pendent L-shaped legs whose feet are arranged to receive the loop and fit within opposite sides thereof to 3. In a loop-setting machine, the combinawithin the loop i ate part yieldingly held below said form arranged to fit between the loop-prongs and adapted to recede into the medial space between the parts of the form as the latter descends, and a presser arranged to operate on the loop when fitted on said form to force said form with said loop downwardly and drive the loop-prongs into the material.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM ROBERT MEDEARIS. Witnesses:

- JOHN W. CATO,

W. ARTHUR LEE. 

